Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that I claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:

Broken Mirrors, chapter 38

Wednesday, January 6th. The Nerima Center for Mental Health, 10:00 AM

A sore and tired Akane sat in her office waiting for her next client. It was almost time for her next session with Kodachi, and she had to admit she looked forward to working with the other woman. An interesting case that she should be able to help with should clear the cobwebs out from between her ears. Last night had been draining, to put it mildly. Between fighting off… Whatever that was, and Ranko's panic attack when she woke up Akane knew that she was not at her best. On top of that the odd drained feeling she had from pushing her chi into the creature like she did, and the physical discomfort of the multiple cuts and lacerations she had sustained, and you had a pretty good picture of the shape she had found herself in. Still, she had only a few patients today so she had been pretty sure that she could muscle through until that evening when she should be able to rest. As long as that creature stayed gone, that was.

Akane looked up from her notes as Kodachi walked into her office, and the two women exchanged their greetings to each other. Once again, Akane was struck by the almost primal beauty of the woman who sat across from her. There was something almost unnatural about the raw sensuality that the woman seemed to exude like it was as natural to her as breathing.

Akane shook her head a little and refocused on her client. "So, how have you been doing? And thank you for coming in again this week. I would usually only schedule a visit every week or two, depending on my patient's needs, but for the first week I have found that sometimes having a second meeting can be helpful to better understand what we can do to help." She said as she slipped her notepad into her lap and reached for her usual pen.

Kodachi nodded as she straightened herself up, consciously correcting the sensual sprawl she had started to slip into. "I… well, you saw me last night…" Kodachi said hesitantly.

"You seemed to be having fun." Akane said in a neutral tone of voice. "Friends of yours?" She asked.

Kodachi laughed. "Would you believe that I had met them that night?"

Akane smiled and cocked her head to the side. "You seem to be a very social person."

Kodachi chuckled. "That's a very nice way to state that I sleep around a lot."

"If you don't like that about yourself, then is that something you would want to change?" Akane asked as she made a note.

"It's part of my nature, but that's it. I don't want it to control me, and dictate my entire life. I don't really want to go back to being like that." Kodachi said with a smile.

Akane nodded as she shifted and winced a little. Kodachi arched an eyebrow as she studied Akane with a critical eye. Akane smiled and made another note.

"Okay, this kind of behavior can be driven by a number of things, so shall we talk a bit and see if we can work towards a better understanding of what is driving this behavior?" Akane said as she smiled.

Kodachi smiled and eyed Akane with a careful look. "Are you okay? You seem to be in some discomfort?" She said in a voice like silk sliding over skin.

Akane blinked and smiled at Kodachi. "I'm fine, just had a bit of an odd night."

Kodachi relaxed in her chair as she smiled at Akane, and kept her eyes locked on Akane's. "That sounds intriguing, I would love to hear about it." She practically purred.

Akane blushed and smiled. "It's nothing you would like to hear about, Kodachi. It's so strange, you would think I'm crazy."

"That just makes it sound so much more interesting." Kodachi said as she leaned slightly towards Akane. Her posture is flirty and alluring.

Akane blushed and fiddled with her collar a little bit. "Are you sure? I mean, it was very odd."

Kodachi shifted her posture just a bit, as she leaned a bit back into her chair. "Oh, yes please! I'd love to hear about your night, it would make me more comfortable talking about mine."

Akane stopped fidgeting with her collar and nodded. "Well, we had a ladies night last night at the Teahouse. We go there fairly often on Tuesday nights. Last night, we had one of Ujyo's friends join us, but she is more of a light weight than my fiancee is, so Ukyo had to leave early. Well, when we got home, we heard some strange noises coming from within the estate." She said as she kept her eyes locked on Kodachi.

"Oh, that does sound troubling. So, what happened? I'd love to hear." Kodachi said as she adjusted her posture a tiny bit.

Akane relaxed a little more and frowned. "Well, Ranko and I hurried into the estate… And we found Ukyo fighting with… Something." Akane said with a slightly confused look on her face.

Kodachi shifted her posture slightly again as she pressed for details. "Something? Oh-ho-ho! That sounds most intriguing! What was it? A robber? An intruder? Something...Else?" She said in a leading sort of way.

Akane nodded slowly. "Something else… It looked like a very large cat… Not like tiger sized, but bigger than a bobcat? But… It looked like it wasn't all… There. Sorry, I'm not making much sense…"

Kodachi frowned and muttered under her breath. "So, just like she said it would start.". She cleared her throat and nodded a little. "That must have been quite frightening for people that have lived a relatively normal and quiet life."

Akane nodded and frowned. "We fought it… But it was hard to touch? Like… It was a bar of wet soap.."

"Like it was a ghost or spirit, then?" Kodachi supplied helpfully.

Akane smiled and nodded. "Exactly! Poor Ranko is terrified of cats, so we didn't think she could help… But..She did. She showed us how to deal with it. We just… We just worry it could come back." Akane said with a frown.

Kodachi leaned back a little, as she kept their gazes locked. "That does sound quite troubling. It sounds like a hostile spirit of . have you considered a priest or spiritualist? It might keep it away, at least for a while." She supplied helpfully.

Akane shook her head. "I wouldn't even have the first clue where to find someone like that. Aren't the ones that claim to do that usually just scam artists trying to rip people off?"

"The ones that advertise, yes… But I know someone who could probably help you. He's… An old acquaintance of mine. From back when I was working in the sex trade,. actually. He called me, by accident, and got a bit more than he had intended. He became a monk after our little encounter. I guess it was a very...religious... experience for him." Kodachi said as she started to sit a bit more upright.

Akane blinked a little and laughed. "We seem to be talking about some strange things, Kodachi."

Kodachi laughed again and nodded. "When we are done today, why don't you collect your darling fiancee, and we can go visit my friend? If nothing else, he should be able to tell you if you have to worry about your little guest coming back."

Akane nodded slowly as her breathing slowed a bit and her eyes seemed to focus a bit more clearly. "If you are sure… What is this friend of yours name?"

Kodachi grinned a predatory little grin. "Hikaru Gosunkugi."

The rest of the session went much more normally, as the two of them moved towards discussing Kodachi's problems, but still Akane could not shake the feeling that something was not quite right. She shrugged it off, as she explained to herself that it had to be from what they went through the previous evening.

After the session, Kodachi told Akane where to meet her, and at what time as Akane nodded, her mind was still somewhat in a daze. As she waited for Ranko, her mind continued to clear, and she thought about just forgetting the entire odd incident, but the look of terror on Ranko's face steeled her resolve to do whatever was needed to make sure that whatever happened the previous night never happened again.

Akane smiled as Ranko wheeled herself towards her fiancee, and moved to hug her tightly. "Are you doing okay?" She asked for the upteenth time that day.

Ranko sighed and hugged her lover back. "Yes, I am doing better. I might not remember everything from last night, but I'm okay. We have been keeping safe, after all."

"I know, I just… Never want us to go through that again. Someone I know had a suggestion, and I think we should look into it." Akane said.

Ranko gave her a look, then nodded. "What was the suggestion?"

"Well… It sounds a little crazy… But they said they knew a spiritualist who might be able to help…" Akane said hesitantly, as she worried what Ranko would think of her for such a strange suggestion.

Ranko blinked and seemed to consider that. "I never honestly thought that there would be anyone in this world without magic that could do such a thing…"

Akane blinked and looked at Ranko. "You don't think it sounds crazy?"

Ranko shrugged. "Akane dear? Look at us. Look at Ranma and myself. Who is to say what is and isn't possible? Let's meet this person, and we can go from there. I trust in your judgement, just like you trust in my training."

Akane smiled as she relaxed and finally felt like herself fully again. "Hai, Sensei!"

Ranko laughed and smiled. "Good. I will even let you push me."

Akane laughed and leaned down to kiss her fiancee. "You are so generous."

"Of course I am, and don't forget it." Ranko said smugly.

As Shiro drove them to the specified location at the specified time, the pair of women looked up at the traditional shrine, then eyed the long flight of stairs and Ranko sighed. "There is no dignified way to do this, is there?" She asked sadly

"Sorry, love. Not unless you wanted to wait in the car." Akane answered as she eyed the stairs as well.

Shiro looked at them both. "Would the Madam prefer it if I carried her up? Or perhaps your chair?"

Ranko shook her head. "We will manage, but thank you Shiro. I will entrust myself to the herculean strength of my dear."

Akane sighed. "I'm not sure that would be considered a compliment, Ranko dear."

Ranko laughed as she reached up and let Akane pick her up. "We are martial artists. It's a compliment."

"Well, one who also is a very talented musician, let's not forget." Akane said as she shifted Ranko into a bridal carry and started her ascent.

The pair of them shared some quiet small talk, and stopped as they saw a figure sitting in the shade half way up. Akane set Ranko down on a bench then bowed to Kodachi.

"Oh-ho-ho! My, don't you both make just a charming pair. The person we are going to meet is an old acquaintance of mine, and he can be a bit… meek and easily scared off. He shouldn't run when he sees me. I think." Kodachi then gestured for them to follow her, and started her climb without looking behind her or waiting.

Akane and Ranko shared a look and followed along behind Kodachi as Akane once more carried her fiancee. "That is old samurai blood for you. She has such a commanding aura, she just expects people to follow her lead." Akane said, and her comment drew a laugh from the woman in her arms. As Akane gave Ranko a questioning look, Ranko shrugged.

"You did notice we just followed along behind her without saying anything, right?" Ranko said, then studied the woman in front of them critically. "She is a martial artist. I can see it in how she moves, and there is a power to her… My senses are getting better, but still… She is something else."

Akane nodded as she studied the other woman as well. If she looked past the aura of just raw sexuality she seemed to exude, and the commanding presence she could see it as well in how she moved. That smooth grace was much more than deportment training. It was the fluid grace of a dancer or martial artist, and if Ranko was sure, she had no reason to doubt it.

When they reached the top, Kodachi pointed out a bench they could sit at under a massive tree and smiled at the pair before she found a monk to bring them her friend. Kodachi walked back over and sat out of sight from anyone who would approach them. As Akane and Ranko gave her a curious look, she just shrugged.

"Like I said, he can be… Skittish, and might run off if he saw me first." Kodachi explained like it was a perfectly natural response.

The two other women exchange another look, but before they can make a comment they see a pale, scrawny man walk their way. He has deep circles under his eyes, and his shaved head is bowed in a way that just makes him look exhausted. He smiled weakly as he neared them and bowed.

"I'm Hikaru Gosunkugi, how can I help you two ladies?" Gosunkugi said after a moment.

Kodachi chose that moment to step out from the little bit of cover she had found. "Hikari, darling! It's been ages. You are looking as pale as ever, I see." She said as she watched him.

The pale man paled even further as he started to make warding signs towards Kodachi. Kodachi watched him with a predatory, amused look on her face before she commented.

"You do know none of that works on me, right Gos? I'm hurt that you even tried! What about all the fun we had, hrm?" Kodachi practically purred at the pale man.

It looked like he had decided to run, when Akane and Ranko exchanged a look and Akane stood up and bowed deeply to Gosunkugi. "Please, can you stay and hear us out? Miss Kuno said that you might be able to help us with a problem we are having?"

He swallowed and stopped from running as he looked at the three women with his brows furrowed. "And.. What would you need from a simple monk such as me?"

Kodachi took a step back and sighed as she looked down, then gave him an honest smile. "They are having a problem with something from the otherside. Some sort of cat-creature. I… was kind of hoping you might be able to help them? It would be a big help to all of us."

He hesitated, then sighed. "Alright. I will hear you out, then… After that? I don't want to see you again, Kodachi."

Kodachi looked down, and much more humbly bowed. "Thank you, Hikaru."

He ignored her and looked at the other two. "Why don't you follow me to my quarters and we can talk over this there." He started to walk off, then sighed and looked back. "That means you as well, Kodachi. Just…. Behave yourself."

Kodachi seemed to perk up at that, and smiled as she waited for Akane to collect Ranko, then the three of them followed the monk deeper into the temple.